Weft detector actuated by direct light



31, 1935- R. G. TURNER 2,026,148

m DETECTOR ACTUATED BY DIRECT LIGHT FiledApril 26, 1934 nuen'tor a Richard. G.Tu.rner

it 5 m t r15 5 shuttle box, to excite the detector.. As a par- Patented: Dec.;31,. i935 Richard G. Turner, Worcester, Mass, assignor to Crompton & Knowles Loom Works, Worcester;

.,,aco'rporation of Massachusetts: f l v Applicationltpril 2s,19s4,"sena 1.no; 722,551 17 Claims. (01. 139-273) invention. relates to improvements in weft detectors for looms and it'is the general object oifthe invention to providea detector which will avoidcontact with: the yarnand operate pref-- 5 erably by a beam or light which is normallyrendered inoperative by presence oiweft, but which upon substantial depletion of .weft is allowed to t shine directly upon a light sensitive "detector 'ielement.' H t In my co-pending. application Serial No. 720,739 I have set'iorth' a weitldetectorof the general type described herein and so arranged I that the detecting. element is responsive Ito change 01 illumination and arranged when this l5 alteration occurs to bring about a change in loom operation. .In that applicationthe' change in illuminationis efiected byreflected light; It isan important object of myfpre'sent invention to employ shuttles and bobbinsso. constructed that a source oilight whichwould normallytend to shine directly upon theilsensitive element at the time of detection is prevented irom doing so by weft presence, When the weftireaches a given minimumit will nolonger be able to obas struct the passage of light and the detector cell, whateveritsiormwill be energized by a ray of lighttfalling directly upon it. ;In this way I avoid any variation in the intensity'fof the actu' ating beam' which"might resultirom using a so number oi bobbins or the like, each'with own reflectingsurface.

Every alternatebeatfoi the. loom the shuttle box at the detecting end of thefloom 'will be empty and a false indication. might thereby be 85 given. "In order. to avoid this result I provide means for preventing a ray of light from being able tolfall on the lightjsensitive elementywhen the shuttle box" is empty; I may provide a shirtter or the like which interrupts thebeain of light hen it would 'otherwisepass through anempty ticular means" of accomplishing this result,I "may use a. cam orthelike having v a completerevo lution intwo'picksoi the loomjandoperatively 145 related to an opaque shieldvwhich'allows light to pass toward thedetector only atsuch .tiines actuation oi the detector steered. My present invention can belused with'bobbins which are provided with aslotto tm'n .50 lightv where means are, provided t pos tion {the bobbin so that the slot is always able to transj mit light, or a special form oibobbin maybe ,used so constructed that it will transmit light can be constructed to transmit a comparatively small amount 01' light inasmuch as the detector is to be actuated only by direct' rays and color of the yarn being detected will not have any appreciable efiect upon the light which reaches 5 the detector. In this respect my present invention differs fromjthat set forth inthe aforesaid application. In the arrangement setfforthherein presence woi yarn casts a shadow upon the detector element, and depletion of the weft. by 10 the weaving operation'renioves-the shadow to permit actuation of the detectors t l With these and other objectsin view which will appearas the description proceedsmy invention resides i the combmauonend arrangement 01' 1 parts hereinafter de'sc'ribedand set forth in the In the accompanyingdrawing. wherein acon- .venient embodiment of my invention is set forth,

= Fig.1 is a plan view ofan endoi a loom show- 2 Refen'ing toth edrawingl shown a 7 l0. having a lay H mountedion swords one of which is designated at in-Flai 2. The lay rocks on a rocker shaft 13' and is driven back and forth bya shaft not shown attachedto connectors II.

By means not shownthepickerstick l5 isjpropelled inwardly in. slot l6 of thelay drive the shuttles out of the box Bto the opposite side of the 100m. As shown herein this picking operation mayoccur on alternate beats of the loom, the

shuttle boxB containing no shuttle onfthe -inter- ,vening picks when the picker stick is idle. fl he picker l1 may be oi' the usual type either secured to or'moving with the picker sticks In Fig. 2 I show ashipper -hsndle 2| on shaft zlandhaving a lower arm'fl connectedto'rod .23. The latter is connected to an upright lever 24 on a fixed pivot 25 and a' link II is attached to the lever. Anaelectromagnetic control ;.device,

such'as solenoidl'l, hasa coreilconnectedto the link 26. A c raon bottom shaft to rocks a so knock-off lever 3| having a knock-o1! finger." in

timed relation with theloom and as herein *on alternate beatsioiithe lay. L

when theloom is running the shipper handle will be pulled forward or to the left as viewed in as Fig. 2, the effect of which will be to move rod 23 to the right, thereby placing the lever 24 in its right hand position. When the solenoid is deenergized the knock-off finger 32 will pass above the adjacent edge of the link 26 and the cam and cam lever will have no connection with the shipping mechanism. When the solenoid is energized, however, the core 28 is raised to lift the link 26 into the path of the finger 32 and the subsequent rocking stroke of the lever 3| will push the link to the left as viewed in Fig. 2 and effect rocking of the shipper handle in a clockwise direction. The particular knock-ofi shown herein forms no part of my present invention and may be substantially the same as shown in prior patent to Payne No. 1,873,465, to which reference maybe had for a further understanding of the details of structure and operation of the knock-oif mechanism controlled through the electro-magnet. It is suflicient for the purpose of the present invention to note that energization of the solenoid 21 results in .a change in loom operation, in this instance, loom stoppage. t

The matter thus far described of itself forms 'no part of my present invention and may be.of

the usual construction. I

In carrying my present inventioninto effect I secure to the loom frame a stand 48 to'which is secured a housing 4| in which is located a photoelectric cell or tube 42 sensitive to a change in illumination.- As'shown more particularly in Fig.

2 the housing is closed on all sides except the rear in which there is located a port or slot 43 so positioned that light entering will fall on the photoelectric tube. V

A cable 44 containing electric connections ex-- j tends between the tube and a relay mechanism shown generally herein at 45. The relay mechanism is fed by wires 46 and 41 tapped in from feed wires 48 and 49, respectively, and there lead from the relay other wires 58 and 5| which are connected as shown in Fig.2 to the solenoid 21. V

.The details of connection between the photoelectric tube, the relay; the solenoid and certain other electrical apparatus considered desirable in I this form of electric apparatus may be the same as shown in the aforementioned application Serial No.7'1201139. These connections of themselves form'no part-of'my present invention and it is thought sufficient 'for'the purposes of present description that when a change occurs in the illumination of the photo-electric tube, the mechanism designated generally at 45 will operate to send current through wires 58 and 5| to energize the solenoid'21. f V

Secured to the back'of the lay is another housing 68 containing'an electric lamp 6| which may be fed by wires 48 and 49. The housing 68 may if desired be closed on all' sides but has in the frontthereof a slot 62.which may be as shown in Fig.2 at substantially the same height as slot 43, although this relation is notessential.

The shuttle box B has abox front 65 with a slot 66 while the binder 61 for the shuttle is provided with a slot 68. The shuttle S may have front and back slots 69 and 18, respectively, while the bobbin 1| may have a 'slot 12. The bobbin may be formedand heldin the shuttle as set forth in my prior Patent'No. 1,611,394 and the parts are so disposed that when the shuttle is-boxed the slots 43,62, 68, 68 and 12 are all so related thatif the bobbin be empty of weft, light can pass from the lamp 6| to the photo-electric tube 42. If desired, a bobbin as shown in Patent No. 1,612,081 may be used, in which case light will be able to pass through the bobbin regardless of its angular position relatively to the shuttle.

As is common with certain types of looms the shuttle will be picked alternately from the two 5 ends of the lay, which means that on every other beat of the lay the shuttle box B will be empty. Under these conditions the lamp, if continuously burning, would come near enough to the photoelectric tube to energize it and thereby give a false 1 indication as the lay advanced. It is an important feature of my present invention to provide means for preventing a direct ray of light from passing from the lamp through the slots already mentioned except at those times when detection of weft is desired. I show herein one particular way of accomplishing this result, but I do not wish to be limited to such means.

The housing 4| is provided with a pair of guides and 16 slotted to receive a thin shutter or opaque plate 11 which lies close to that part of the housing 4| in which the slot 43 is located. The lower end of the plate is connected to an arm 18 attached to a shaft 19. A pin 86 may be used to establish connection between the arm 18 and plate 11 as set forth more particularly in Fig. 3. The shaft 19 will be rocked in a bearing 8| associated with the housing 4| and in a second bearing 82 supported by the bracket 48. A small lever 83 is secured to the shaft 19 and has one arm connected to a spring 84 which, as shown in Figs.

2 and 3, acts normally to raise the plate 11. The other end of the lever 83 is connected to a rod 85 connected at its lower end to a lever 86 pivoted at 81 and positioned by a cam 88 having a high point 89 and a low dwell 98. The plate 11 may have a slot 9| through which light can pass, and

a cam roll 95 on the lever engages the cam.

In operation, lamp 6| will be burning constantly and'the'lay will move back and forth, the shuttle being in box B on alternate beats. When the shuttle enters the box B during the forward movement of the lay the timing of the shaft 36 will be such that the cam 88 will place the riser or high point 89 under. roll 95, thereby depressing the rod 85 so that the slot 9| comes into alignment with the other light transmitting slots already described. If under these conditions sufflcient weft is present in the shuttle for continued weaving, it will block passage of light through the bobbin slot 12 and a shadow will be cast on the photo-electric cell 42. Under these conditions there will be no excitation of the tube or the relay and the loom will continue to run;

As the lay moves rearwardly after reaching its foremost position the picker stick will be operative to propel the shuttle to the opposite side of the loom, but before this happens the cam 88 will be turned far enough so that spring 84 will move the lever 86 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2, operatively relating the lever to the low dwell 90. The effect of this motion is to raise the plate 11 to the position shown in Fig. 4, so that the opaque part thereof under the slot 9| will be in thepath of the 'ray of light before the shuttle is picked. In this way a false indication, which might otherwise result when the path through the shuttle box was unobstructed due to shuttle picking, is obviated. During the subsequent beatup of the lay when the shuttle 'is on the opposite side of the loom the dwell 98 will continue to control the lever 86, and slot 43 will'be blocked to light.

, When the shuttle again is picked into box B it may have its weft supply depleted, and after it 45 i seen that changes and modifications may be made ,is boxed the riser 89 u will depress .theplate 'i'l, whereupon light emanating from the lamp 6| will pass through slots 62, 86, 12, 10,66, Stand 43 ofthe loom the op que part of the plate casting a-shadow on the photo-electric cell when in raised position. This forrhgof plate can be lowered so thatlight can pass over the topof it into the slot 43 to accomplish, the result achieved when the parts previously described are in the position shown in Fig. 2. I

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a simple means for indicating weft exhaustion without physical contact of any of the detecting parts with the weft. This result is achieved as shown herein by placing a source of light and a photo-electric tube in such a relation to eachother that when detecting is possible weft presencelwill cast a shadow on the tube, but if weft be absent, or substantially depleted, the

light is transmitted through the weft carrier to excite the photo-electric element. It will also be seen that excitation of the photo-electric tube is prevented at all times except those when a shuttle is boxed and in 'a position tobe detected. It will also be seen from Fig. 2 that when the parts are related for detection, the port or slot 43 is close to laycarried parts which do not transmit light except for the slot 66 and the possibility of extraneous light entering the housing 42 is thereby greatly reduced. If desired, the circuit can be adjusted so that the intensity of light from the lamp 6| passing through the slots will not be suflicient to excite the photo-electric tube until the lay is in the forward part of its stroke. This result can be accomplished because the intensity of the light varies inversely as the square of the distance between the lamp and the tube.

Having thus. described my invention it will be therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and'scope of the invention and I do, not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim is:

1. In a loom, a photo-electric weft detector effective upon a change of illumination thereof to initiate a change in loom operation, and a source of light tending at the time of detection to shine directly upon the weft detector to change the illumination thereof and prevented from shining on said detector when sufllcient weft for continued weaving is present.

2. In a loom, a weft detector efl'ectiveupon a change of illumination thereof to initiate a change in loom operation, a source of light positioned to shine directly upon and change the illumination of the detector at the time of weft detection, and a weft supply to prevent the source of light from changing the illumination of the detector when sufiicient weft for continued weaving is present.

3. In aloom, a weft detector effective upon a change of illumination thereof to initiate a change inloom operation, a source of light, and a shuttle containing a supply of weft and so formed as to define a passage for light from the source to the detector, presence of suflicient weft for continued weaving preventing transmission of light through I e the shuttle from the source to the detector. 75

a 4. In aloom, a weft detector efl'ective upon a detector.

5,. In a loom, a weft detector eifective upon a 10 change of illumination thereof to initiate a change in loom operation, a source of light,: a shuttle, a

weft carrier in the shuttle, the carrier and shuttle being located-between the source of light and the detector, suflicient weft for continued weaving l6 casting a shadow upon and causing no substantial change in illumination of the detector, and said carrierand shuttle being so formed as to define a passage for light when insufiicientweftis. presi ent fromthe source to the detector to change the illumination of the latter.

6. In a loom, a weft detector effective upon a change of illumination thereof to initiate a change in loom operation, a source of lighttending to change the illumination of the detector, and 26 means to place a sufficient supply of weft for continued weaving in position to cast a shadow upon and prevent change of illumination of the detector. I

'I. In a loom, a photo-electric weft detector ef- 80 fective when the illumination thereof is changed to initiate a change in loom operation, a source of light, and a weft supply to be located between the source of light and the detector at the time of weft detection.

8. In a loom, a substantially stationary weft detector effective upon a change of illumination thereof to initiate a change in loom operation, a source of light movable toward and from the detector, and means to interpose a weft supply be- 40 tween the source of light and the detector to prevent light from fallingon the detector when suflicient weft is present and permit light to fall on the detector when insuflicient weft is present.

9. In a light actuated weft detector, a stationary element effective upon a change of illumination to initiate a change in loom operation, a movable source 'of light, and means to interpose a supply of weft between the source of light and the element at the time of detection.

10. In a loom operating with a weft supply, a weft detector effective upon a change of illumination thereof to initiate a change in loom operation, a source of light movable toward and from the weft detector, and eifectivewhen approaching the detector and when the weft supply is substantially exhausted to change the illumination of the detector. i

' 11. In a loom, a weft detector effective upon a change of illumination thereof to initiate a change on the intervening beats of the lay to prevent the source of light from changing the illumination of the detector.

12. In a loom, a weft detector effective upon a change of illumination thereof to initiate a change in loom operation, a shuttle to be in detecting position on alternate beats of the loom, a source of light normally positioned to effect a change of illumination of the detector, and means to prevent the source from changing the illumination of the 7 3 tion of the detector, and means effective on the non-detecting intervening beats of the loom to prevent the source from changing the illumination of the detector.

14. In a loom, a weft detector effective upon a change of illumination thereof to initiate a change in loom operation, a supply-of weft to be in detecting' position on alternate beatsonly of the loom, a source of light, and means to render said source'of light incapable of changing the illumination of 'the detector except when the weft supply is in detecting position.

15. In a loom, a lay, a weft detector efiective when subjected to a change of illumination to indetector on the intermediate non-detecting beats itiate a change in loom operation, a source of light moving with the lay, and means by virtue of which substantial exhaustion of weft causes the light from the source to fall on and change the illumination of the detector. 5

' 16. In a loom, a lay, a weft detector on the lay effective when subjected to a change of illumination to initiate a change in loom operation, a source of light on the lay, and means by virtue of g which substantial exhaustion of weft causes light 10 from the source to fall on and change the illumination of the detector.

17. In a loom, a weft detector efiective upon a change of illumination thereof to initiate a change in loom operation, a lay, a weft carrier with a 15 weft supply on the lay, a source of light moving with the lay and tending normally to change the illumination of the detector and prevented from doing so by a sufllcient supply of weft.

RICHARD G. TURNER. 

